The backbone dynamics of the uniformly 15N-labeled ribonuclease H (RNase H) domain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase have been investigated using two-dimensional inverse-detected heteronuclear 15N-1HNMR spectroscopy. 15N T1, T2, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) data were obtained for 107 out of a total of 134 backbone amide groups. The overall rotational correlation time (tau R) for the protein at 26 degrees C is 10.4 ns. The backbone N-H vectors for all the measurable residues exhibit very fast motions on a time scale of less than or equal to 20 ps. The 15N relaxation data for only 14 residues can be explained by this single internal motion alone. A further 39 residues display a second motion on a time scale ranging from 28.8 ps to 3.9 ns, while another 15 residues are characterized by an additional motion on the 170-ns to 2.25-ms time scale resulting in 15N T2 exchange line broadening. There are 39 residues that exhibit both the additional 15N T2 exchange line broadening and the slow (28.8 ps-3.9 ns) internal motion. Thus, the RNase H domain experiences extensive mobility throughout its structure as evidenced by the 93 residues which exhibit multiple modes of motion. Distinctly mobile regions of the protein are identified by large decreases in the overall order parameter (S2) and correspond to the C-terminal residues and the loop regions between beta-strands beta 1 and beta 2 and between alpha-helix alpha B and beta-strand beta 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)